Supreme Court Suspends 14 Patanjali Products, Orders Public Apology for Misleading Ads

The Supreme Court of India has reprimanded the Uttarakhand licensing authority for its inaction against Patanjali Ayurved and Divya Pharmacy for their misleading advertisements. In a decisive move, the court has suspended the manufacturing licenses of 14 Patanjali products, including popular items like Swasari Gold, Bronchom, and Eyegrit Gold.

The Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority invoked its power under Rule 159(1) of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules 1954 to suspend the licenses. The authority said Patanjali did not provide the required information about the products and its defense was not satisfactory. The court's actions come in response to complaints about Patanjali's misleading advertisements, which were found to be in violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act and the Drugs and Cosmetic Act.

In addition to the license suspensions, a criminal complaint has been lodged against Patanjali Ayurved, its Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna, co-founder Baba Ramdev, and Divya Pharmacy under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act 1954. The Supreme Court had earlier criticized Ramdev for not complying with its directives to stop misleading advertisements and is considering pressing contempt charges against him.

Why this matters: The Supreme Court's actions against Patanjali Ayurved and its founders send a strong message about the importance of truthful advertising and compliance with drug regulations in India. As a major player in the Ayurvedic medicine market, Patanjali's misleading ads and claims have far-reaching consequences for consumer trust and public health.

The court has ordered Patanjali Ayurved to issue a prominent public apology in leading national dailies for its misleading advertisements. Ramdev and Balkrishna have tendered an "unconditional and unqualified apology" before the Supreme Court, and Patanjali has issued a new public apology in newspapers with bigger and more visible fonts. The case against Patanjali Ayurved, Ramdev, and Balkrishna is set to be heard again in the Supreme Court on April 30, 2024, with the accused expected to attend.

Key Takeaways

• Supreme Court reprimanded Uttarakhand authority for inaction against Patanjali's misleading ads.
• Licenses of 14 Patanjali products suspended for lack of required information and unsatisfactory defense.
• Criminal complaint filed against Patanjali, Balkrishna, and Ramdev under Drugs and Magic Remedies Act.
• Patanjali ordered to issue prominent public apology for misleading ads, Ramdev and Balkrishna apologized.
• Case against Patanjali, Ramdev, and Balkrishna to be heard again in Supreme Court on April 30, 2024.